Gretchen Abaniel

Last updated
Gretchen Abaniel
Born
Gretchen Magbanua Abaniel

(1985-11-04) November 4, 1985 (age 39)
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Other names"Chen-Chen"
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights29
Wins18
Wins by KO6
Losses11
Medal record
Women's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2005 Podolsk Pinweight

Gretchen Magbanua Abaniel (born November 4, 1985) is a Filipino professional boxer. She held the WIBA mini-flyweight title from 2009 to 2011 and the WIBF mini-flyweight title from 2015 to 2016. She has also challenged for multiple major world titles across three weight classes; the WBA, IBF and WBO female mini-flyweight titles between 2008 and 2017; the WBA female atomweight title in 2013; and the WBO female light-flyweight title in 2018.

Contents

Early life

Abaniel's father thought she should learn martial arts like karate and she later grew interested in boxing, joining the national team to start her amateur career. [1] Abaniel is a Seventh-day Adventist. [2]

Boxing career

Amateur

Abaniel, a resident of Puerto Princesa, has been supported by her town's mayor, Edward Hagedorn, throughout her career, even when becoming part of the Philippine national team in 2003 due to inadequate support from the Philippine Sports Commission. As an amateur boxer competing for her country, Abaniel won a bronze medal at the 2005 Women's World Amateur Boxing Championships in Russia. She has also won titles in tournaments held in Taiwan. [3]

Professional

Citing lack of support from the government, Abaniel turned professional in 2006. [3]

Abaniel won her first world title match against Thailand's Nongbua Lookpraiaree after a tenth-round unanimous decision allowed her to capture the vacant Women's International Boxing Association World minimumweight title. She lost her title to Samson Tor Buamas in Sukhothai, Thailand on February 19, 2011. [4]

2015 Abaniel won her match in Ludwigsburg MHP Arena, Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, against undefeated hometown favorite, German-Turkish Oezlem Sahin for the WIBF/GBU world light flyweight title. [5] Judges scored (96-94,94-96,99-91) granting her a split decision victory.

Professional boxing record

29 fights18 wins11 losses
By knockout63
By decision128
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss18–11 Seniesa Estrada RTD4 (10), 2:0013 Jun 2019 The Avalon, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For WBC Silver female light-flyweight title
28Loss18–10 Tenkai Tsunami TKO4 (10), 1:3329 Jul 2018 Okinawa Convention Center, Ginowan, JapanFor WBO female light-flyweight title
27Loss18–9Cai ZongjuUD1028 Oct 2017 Macau East Asian Games Dome, Cotai, ChinaFor IBF female minimumweight title
26Win18–8Chamaporn ChairinUD630 Sep 2017Elorde Sports Complex, Parañaque, Philippines
25Win17–8Saowaluk NareepangsriUD102 Jul 2016Club Punchbowl, Sydney, AustraliaRetained GBU female minimumweight title; Won vacant WIBA minimumweight title
24Win16–8 Asiye Özlem Sahin SD107 Nov 2015 Arena Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, GermanyWon GBU and vacant WIBF minimumweight titles
23Loss15–8Park Ji-hyunUD101 Aug 2015Bucheon Gymnasium, Bucheon, South KoreaFor WIBA atomweight title
22Loss15–7Cai ZongjuUD1022 Feb 2015Wenshan Prefecture Ethnic Gymnasium, Wenshan, ChinaFor vacant WBC International female minimumweight title
21Loss15–6Kumiko Seeser IkeharaSD1020 Sep 2014Azalea Taisho Hall, Osaka, JapanFor vacant WBO female minimumweight title
20Win15–5Thanya TuyonTKO5 (10), 1:4424 May 2014 Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, Sydney, Australia
19Win14–5Sumalee TongpootornTKO9 (10), 1:187 Feb 2014Town Plaza Gymnasium, Biñan, PhilippinesWon vacant WIBA minimumweight title
18Loss13–5 Ayaka Miyao UD1028 Nov 2013 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor WBA female atomweight title
17Win13–4Dorkmaipa KeangpompetchKO1 (4), 1:3917 Aug 2013RSL Club, Sawtell, Australia
16Win12–4Chadaphorn SuklertTKO4 (10), 1:362 Dec 2012Makati Cinema Square Boxing Arena, Makati, PhilippinesWon vacant WIBA minimumweight title
15Win11–4Christine LatubeUD629 Sep 2012Brusmick Compound Gym, Santa Rosa, Philippines
14Loss10–4 Teeraporn Pannimit UD1025 Apr 2012Bung Nam Thao, ThailandFor vacant WBO female minimumweight title
13Loss10–3 Katia Gutiérrez TKO4 (10), 1:5710 Dec 2011 Estadio Centenario, Los Mochis, MexicoFor IBF female minimumweight title
12Loss10–2 Siriporn Thaweesuk UD1019 Feb 2011 Sukhothai Institute of Physical Education Stadium, Sukhothai, ThailandFor WIBA and vacant WBC–ABCO minimumweight titles
11Win10–1Buasawan WisetchatUD82 Oct 2010Elorde Sports Complex, Parañaque, Philippines
10Win9–1Waranya YoohanngohUD1025 Mar 2010 Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay, PhilippinesRetained WIBA minimumweight title
9Win8–1Buasawan WisetchatUD1025 Mar 2009 Manila Hotel, Manila, PhilippinesWon vacant WIBA minimumweight title
8Win7–1Tukta PakabbuthUD1013 Sep 2008Puerto Princesa Coliseum, Puerto Princesa, PhilippinesRetained WIBA Intercontinental minimumweight title
7Loss6–1Son Cho-rongTD4 (10), 2:0016 Mar 2008 Gwangju, South KoreaFor WBA female minimumweight title
6Win6–0Napaporn BoonchuonUD1016 Nov 2007San Andres Civic & Sports Center, Manila, PhilippinesWon vacant WBC International female minimumweight title
5Win5–0Li Hai LiUD815 Sep 2007Elorde Sports Complex, Parañaque, PhilippinesWon vacant WIBA Intercontinental minimumweight title
4Win4–0Baina LondoTKO3 (4), 1:0029 Apr 2007Plaza Rajah Sulayman, Manila, Philippines
3Win3–0Jessica OyangTKO3 (4), 1:2021 Apr 2007New Victorias City Coliseum, Victorias, Philippines
2Win2–0Baina LondoUD43 Mar 2007 Plaza Rajah Sulayman, Manila, Philippines
1Win1–0Li Hai LiMD421 Dec 2006EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China

Titles and Accomplishment

WIBA Women's International Boxing Association Minimumweight title (2009, 2014, 2016)
WBC International female minimumweight title (2007)

Other Titles:
WIBA Minimumweight Intercontinental Title
Women's International Boxing Federation World Minimumweight title
Global Boxing Union Female World Minimumweight title

Appearances in media

She was a contestant on the television program The Amazing Race Philippines 2 , being a part of an athleticism focused duo with Luz McClitton. [6] She was also a guest on a morning news-talk program called GMK conceptualized by Daniel Razon.

She also participated on a Philippine variety show called It's Showtime:Trabahula on March 10, 2016

See also

Related Research Articles

Yvonne Caples is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1999 and 2014. She held the IFBA light flyweight title in 2003 and challenged for multiple world championships during her career; the WIBF light flyweight title in 2002; the WIBA minimumweight title twice in 2004 and 2005; and the WBC female light flyweight title in 2005.

Mini flyweight, also known as strawweight, minimumweight or super atomweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

Ricardo López Nava is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2001. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC mini flyweight title from 1990 to 1998, defending it against a record-breaking 21 opponents; the WBA and WBO mini flyweight titles between 1997 and 1998; and the IBF junior flyweight title from 1999 until his retirement in 2001. He is one of just fifteen world boxing champions to retire without a loss. He is the father of undefeated former boxer Alonso López.

Ria Ramnarine is a Trinidadian and Tobagonian former professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2012. During her career, she held world titles in two weight-classes; the WIBA minimumweight title from 2005 to 2006; the WIBF minimumweight and WIBA light flyweight titles in 2011. She also challenged once for the WBA female minimumweight title in 2010. She was Trinidad and Tobago's first female world champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susi Kentikian</span> German-Armenian boxer

SusiannaLevonovna Kentikian is an Armenian-German former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2016. She was born in Yerevan, Armenian SSR, but left the country with her family at the age of five because of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Kentikian has lived in Hamburg since 1996 and began boxing at the age of twelve.

Hülya Şahin, aka Julia "Sunshine" Sahin, is a German professional female boxer. She is a former world champion in kickboxing and was world champion in amateur boxing as well. As of September 1, 2007, she is the undefeated WIBF world junior flyweight (48 kg) champion. The 1.60 m tall sportswoman lives in Cologne, Germany. Hülya is an educated locksmith, working currently for the Cologne Transit Company (KVB) in the maintenance of ticket machines in trams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donnie Nietes</span> Filipino boxer (born 1982)

Donnie Liboon Nietes is a Filipino professional boxer. He is a world champion in four weight-classes, having previously held the WBO mini-flyweight title from 2007 to 2011; the WBO and The Ring magazine junior-flyweight titles between 2011 and 2016; IBF flyweight title from 2017 to 2018; and the WBO junior-bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019. He is the longest-reigning Filipino boxing world champion, surpassing in 2014 the record set in 1967 by Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. He was one of the first three Asian fighters with world titles in at least four weight classes alongside fellow Filipinos Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.

Terri Moss is a retired female boxer, and a 2015 inductee into the International Women's Boxing Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marlen Esparza</span> American boxer (born 1989)

Marlen Esparza is an American professional boxer who is the former WBC, WBO, WBA and Ring female world flyweight champion. As an amateur, in 2012 she became the first American female boxer to qualify for the Olympics, in the first year that women's boxing was an Olympic event, going on to win a bronze medal in the women's flyweight division at the London Olympics. This made her the first American woman winner of any Olympic boxing medal.

Teresa Perozzi is an American-Bermudian former professional boxer who competed from 2003 to 2014. She held the WBA female middleweight title from 2011 to 2012 and also challenged for multiple world titles throughout her career; the WBA, WBC, WIBF, and WIBA super-middleweight titles in 2008; the WBO female middleweight title in 2010; and the WBC female middleweight title twice in 2012 and 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Sophie Mathis</span> French boxer (born 1977)

Anne Sophie Mathis is a French former professional boxer who competed between 1995 and 2016. She held world titles in two weight division; the WBA female super-lightweight from 2006 to 2008; the WBC female super-lightweight title in 2008; and the WIBF and WIBA welterweight titles in 2011. She also challenged once for the WBO female light-middleweight title in 2014 and the undisputed welterweight title in 2016 against Cecilia Brækhus. She is best known for her knockout win over Holly Holm in 2011 and is considered one of the biggest punchers in the history of women's boxing.

Victorio Miranda Saludar is a Filipino professional boxer who held the WBO mini-flyweight title from 2018 to 2019 and the WBA (Regular) mini-flyweight title in 2021.

Seniesa Carmen Estrada is an American former professional boxer who won the WBA female minimumweight title in March 2021, the WBC and Ring female minimumweight titles in March 2023, and the IBF and WBO female minimumweight titles in March 2024. On March 29, 2024, she became the undisputed female minimumweight champion of the world. She previously held the WBC Silver female light flyweight title from 2018 until 2021, and the WBA female interim flyweight title from 2019 to 2020.

Anabel Ortiz Morales is a Mexican professional boxer. She is a two-time mini flyweight world champion, having held the WBA title since 2013 and previously the WBC title from 2009 to 2011. She also challenged once for the unified WBA, and WBO light flyweight titles in 2012. As of May 2020, she is ranked as the world's fifth best active female minimumweight by BoxRec.

Naoko Fujioka is a Japanese former professional boxer. She is Japan's first ever five-division world champion, having held the WBA female flyweight title between March 2017 to April 2022. She also previously held the WBC female minimumweight; WBO female junior-flyweight; WBA female super-flyweight; and WBO female bantamweight titles between 2012 and 2017.

Cindy Serrano is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who held the WBO female featherweight title from 2016 to 2017. She also challenged for the WIBA featherweight title in 2005; the WIBA and WIBF welterweight titles in 2011; and the unified WBA and IBF female lightweight titles in 2018. Her younger sister, Amanda, is also a professional boxer. The pair became the first sisters to hold world titles from major sanctioning bodies at the same time after Cindy captured the WBO title in 2016.

Etsuko Tada is a Japanese professional boxer. She is a former four-time mini-flyweight world champion, having held the WBA title from 2009 to 2013; the IBF title from 2015 to 2017; and the WBO title twice between 2018 and October 2021.


Oscar Manuel Collazo is a Puerto Rican professional boxer and unified mini flyweight champion who has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) mini flyweight title since May 2023 and the World Boxing Association WBA and Ring magazine titles since November 2024.

Teeraporn Pannimit is a Thai professional boxer who is a former two-time WBO female mini flyweight champion.

References

  1. ↑ untvweb (2013-10-15), Meet the Filipina World Boxing Champ , retrieved 2016-04-13
  2. ↑ Eroa, Dennis (26 July 2016). "Unsung heroine: Abaniel punches way to stardom". Sports Inquirer. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Gutierrez, Paul (1 August 2016). "'3x champ' pero mahirap pa rin" [‘3x champ’ but still difficult [for Abaniel]]. Journal Online (in Filipino). Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  4. ↑ "Gretchen Abaniel Captures Her Second World Title - Boxing News". boxingscene.com.
  5. ↑ "Özlem Sahin (Ger) vs. Gretchen Abaniel (Philippines)". www.globalboxingunion.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  6. ↑ The Amazing Race Philippines Reality Fan Forum Retrieved April 25, 2019
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.